Weight grading-machine.



W. D. HONOHAN. WEIGHT GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3. l9l5.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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wiinessx Mam W. D. HONOHAN.

WEIGHT GRADING MACHINE.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG-I3. I9I5.

Main 5 as. I WA mm 1). 30mm, or cnroneo, nfgnrn'ors.

' ies wnireinr eaanme-maonmn.

a iinoati n'alea m is, 1915. Serial was.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. Hones HAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county 7 of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Weight Grading-Machines, lowing is a specification. g y This invention relates to a machmefor gradin or asserting articles b weight; in the em odiment of the inventlon shownm the drawings the machine is arranged for use in the comparative large articles, such as hams, etc.

The main objects of the invention are t provide a machme of this class havinga supporting table equipped with means adapted to be actuated by the weight of articles passing thereover'for discharging them at various points along the table; to provide improved means for conveying articles along the table; and to rovide an improved'cou struction of trap oor mechanism for assorting and delivermg articles. 7

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a weight grading machine constructed accordin to this invention.

iig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line AA of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the carrying plates of the conveyer.

The present invention is designed mainly to provide automatic and mechanically operative means for sorting by weight a considerable quantity of articles in a short time; to avoid the necessity of manual selection and weighing of such articles; and to provide means for more accurately assorting such articles for the purpose of reducing the time required in curing; for instance, if inaccurately or unassorted hams are cured together, it is usually found convenient to extend the curing operation for the lighter weight hams to the time required for curing the heavier hams. Thus the present invention permits shortening of the time-required in the curing process by from two to three weeks with ce tain weight of 0 which th i i i sprocket 6 by means of which p w acking industry for assorting.

hams, and also indirectly in more uniform cur ng. f

Re errmg tov the drawings, the machme shown com rises a frame 1 having bearings at each on for supporting the shafts 2 and .3- on which are r gidly secured sprocket wheels4 and,5. Also fixed on shaft 3 .is a

is applie to'the machine. Endless chains 7 driven by sprockets '4 and 5 have, secured thereto at intervals along their length plates 8 which carry pivoted thereto resillently mounted carryin plates 9. The motion of lates 9 is limite in one direction by shoulers 10 on plates 8 and the opposite direction is controlled by springs 11 extending between points 12 of plates 9 and spring supports 13 formed in plates 8. The purpose of such resilient arrangement is to reduce the possibility of injury to articles conveyed. The chain conveyor is guided by the members 14 and 15 secured to the upright members 16 supported by frame 1, the lower set of guides 14 serving to maintain the guide 7 carrying plates 9 at the desired height above table 17 supported by the frame 1.

The table 17 is provided with a plurality of openings 18 along its length, and fitting 4 tion by counterweights 23 adjustably mounted on the levers 24 fulcrumecl on bolts 25 and depending bars 26. The levers 24 at their ends opposite the counterweights' 23 have slots 27 7 through which pass'bolts 28 mounted on depending arms 29 of the trap doors. This connection between levers 24 and arms 29 allows for eccentric pivotal movement between the levers 24 and the trap doors 19 around their respective fulcrums 25 and 21.

Slidably mounted in frame members 30 of the trap doors 19 are triggers or plungers 31 normally urged into position shown in the drawings by springs 32, and having their outward movement limited by pins 33 car-.

w1th adjusta le counterwei returned to. the upper 'under the 2 I I v lungers 31 and being provided ghts 36 normally urgin the arms by gravity into the posi tion own in the drawings. and the plungers 31 have rounded. en s at their point of contact, as shown in the drawing with the m order that the plungers will be cammed inwardly and pass the endsof trips 35 when the correspondin trap doors'are horizontal positions, glravity action of counterweights 23, after t e selected articles are released from the tra doors. The triggers 35, therefore, norma ly serve to maintain the trap doors 19 in horizontal position, but when one of the trap doors carries a weight sufficient to overcome counterweight 36, the corresponding trigger 35 is rocked around its pivotal connectlon 37 on bar 34, disengaging the plunger 31and permitting the corresponding trap door to rock downwardly, as appears 1n the center of Fig. 1. By this means an article delivered by the carrying tra door whlch releases when carrying a weight equal to such article, is delivered to the appro riate chute or bin for articles of such we1g t. I

In the operation of the device, assuming that the counterweights 36 are adjusted along their respective carrying arms or I 4 required the machine,

trips 35 to cause action of such triggers as to size, assort, or release the heavier articles and then the lighter ones progressively, then, upon the operation of the articles being sorted are carried along the tables 17 from ri ht to left (Fig. 1), the lighter articles w' pass by the first trap doors without causing an op eration thereof. When such lighter articles arrive on platforms arranged to be released at the corresponding weights, the pressure of the weight on such platforms causes the correspondmg trips 35 to be rocked around 45 I '31 hearing on the ends of said trips.

their pivots 37 through the action of plun fir e tap door is in this manner released and r ed downwardly when it receives a 3 weight sufiicient to overcome the weight of the 'correspondin counterweights 36 and 23 as adjusted on t eir resplective sup ortin levers 35 and 24. --When t e article des o ofthe inclined trap door the latter is ,re-

turned to its normal position by the weight of the counterweight 23. I

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I I cla1m:-' I

1. In a machine of the class described, a

The tri s 35 the action of the respective mounted plates 9 of the conveyer to a' trip devices to release said trap doors when carrying diflt'ercnt desired predetermined weights.

2. In a machine of the class described, a

for conveying articles placed support, means for conveying articles placed on said support along the same said support being provided with a plurality of openings therein, trap doors pivotally ing said openings, counterweights arranged to urge said trap doors into closed position, trip devices for retaining said trap doors in a. closed position, and counterweights ad justably mounted on said trips for causing said tr1p devices to release said trap doors when carrying difieren't desired predetermined weights, I 3. A machine of the class described, comprising a supporting structure having a sur-' ace or way for the passage of articles to be graded, an opening in said surface, a tra door normally closing said opening, a late for retaining said door in closed position,

' and adjustable means for causing said latch on said support and normally clos to release the door on the application of a I predetermined weight on said door.

4. A machine. of the class described, comprising a sup orting structure having a surface or way or the passage of articles to be graded, an opening in said surface, atrap door for closing mally urging sa1d door to closed position, a latch for retaining said door in closed position, and adjustable means for causing said said opening, means norlatch to release the door on the a plication I of a predetermined weight on sai door.

5. In a device of the class described, a support, a trap door hinged to said sup ort, means normally urging said door to cldsed position, and a latch for retaining said door in closed position, said latch being arranged 'torelease the door on the application of a predetermined pressure on said door.

6. In-a device of the class described, a support, a tra door hinged to saidsup ort, means norma y urging said door to cibsed position, and a latch for retainin said door in closed osition, said latch being adjustable for t e purpose of releasing said door upon the application of a predetermined pressure on the door. I

'7. A weight grading machine, comprisin a platform, a plurality of trap doors'in sai I platform, means for conve I e graded along said plat orm, said trap articles to doors being provided with springpressed to the trap doors which are suflicient to overlatch bolts, means for normally urging said balance said counterweighted levers. 10

trap doors to closed position, and 'counter- 'Signed at Chicago this 7th day of August welghted levers pivoted to said platform '1915.

5 and arranged to yieldingly engage said latch WILLIAM D. HONQHAN.

bolts whereby the trap doors are retained Witnesses: in closed position against the action of Rtmow RUM weights thereon until weights are applied WM. E. HANN. 

